Volume One—Chapter Nine.
Aunt Sophia on Boats.
The encounter completely spoiled the doctor’s walk, and he turned back sooner than he had intended, meeting Aunt Sophia and Naomi Raleigh in the garden, and accompanying them in to the breakfast-table, where the incident was forgotten in the discussion that ensued respecting returns to town. Of these, Scarlett would hear nothing, for he had made his plans. He said they were to dine at five; and directly after, the boat would be ready, and they would pull up to the lock, and then float down home again by moonlight.
“Well,” said Scales, with a shrug of the shoulders, “you are master here.”
“No, no,” replied his host; “yonder sits the master;” and he pointed to his wife.
“How many will the boat hold safely, dear?” said Lady Scarlett.
“Oh, a dozen, easily. Eighteen, if they would all sit still and not wink their eyes. We shan’t be above seven, so that’s all right.”
“You need not expect me to go,” said Aunt Sophia sharply. “I’m not going to risk my life in a boat.”